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Parkes Phoenix

Congratulations Ben Lovett

June 27, 2024 By Roxane Manley

Ben participates in Ambassador work through GOAL College working with year 11 and 12 students.


Ben was part of the NRL Roads to Regions tour visiting schools in Port Macquarie and Forster.

Haylee Redfern Is Now A WKSF World Champion

June 20, 2024 By Roxane Manley

Haylee is pictured competing in the Long Cycle 16kg + 16kg.

 

Forbes woman Haylee Redfern has re­turned from a four day competition in Po­land, 6th – 9th June, as the WKSF Kettle­bell Sport World Champion. Hayley was a winner in the following categories, Amateur Long Cycle Champion 16kg + 16kg, Mas­ter OALC Champion 16kg, Amateur 30min OALC Champion 16kg, Master 30min OALC Champion 16kg, New World Re­cord Masters 30min One Arm Long Cycle (OALC), Silver medalist in Masters Long Cycle and Bronze in Amateur OALC.

When asked when she first set her sights on becoming a World Champion, Haylee said: “I’ve always set my own standards quite high. I qualified for the Australian Team back in 2019 – my first year of Kettle­bell Sport, however due to Covid was un­able to travel to Spain for the 2020 World Championships.”

Haylee said of the moment she realised she had won: “It was a very emotional ex­perience standing on that platform when the National Anthem started playing. It was so surreal and such an honour to think of what I had achieved for my country and myself.”

“The importance of being the best role model I can be to my children is highly valued to me and for them to say they are proud, reassures me I must be doing something right in the parenting depart­ment. They are 7 and 11.”

Haylee is back on the platform this week­end as part of the re-qualification process; before competing at State of Origin in Au­gust then onto the GSAA Nationals in Mel­bourne in September.

Forbes Magpies Rugby League

June 20, 2024 By Roxane Manley

The Magpies take on Orange Hawks in Round 8 at home this weekend. League tag will be at 10.30am, Under 18s 11.30am, Re­serve Grade 12.40pm and First Grade 2pm.

If you’re not doing anything Sunday head on over to Spooners Oval for a great day out.

Forbes Croquet News

June 20, 2024 By Elvy Quirk

Aussie Croquet was not played on Satur­day 15th June as the grounds were far too wet underfoot. Tuesday 18th saw 34 keen players come along and brave the cold and foggy conditions. It was great to see John Farah back with us after a stint away due to health issues. Some good scores were re­corded on the day. One runaway score 11/2 recorded by John Farah who seems to be in form after the break. 10/3 another top score recorded by Vince Roberts & Bill Scott, 9/4 Lyn Simmonds and Rex Toole, Kevin Rubie and Enid Baker, John Allegri and Noel Jol­liffe, Ray Burridge and Lyall Strudwick, Rus­sell Anderson and Bill Scott, Frank Donohoe and Peter West, Robin Pols and Enid Baker.

There were also many 7/6 scores on the day. A reminder that the next Monthly Birth­day Luncheon will be held at the Forbes Sportsmans Hotel (Golf Club) on Tuesday 2nd July, please get your names in asap.

Roast Lunch for $22. Croquet continues to be a very popular game and if you would like to try the game come down to Halpins Flat on Tuesday or Saturday and you will be put with an experienced player to learn the ropes. Arrival 9.15am for 9.30am start. Until next week.

By Elvy Quirk

2024 Parkes Yard Dog Trials

June 20, 2024 By Roxane Manley

All results for the weekend are available on the NSW Yard Dog Association website.

The fourth annual yard dog trials were a successful weekend, with entries up on last year. Competitors travelled from across New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria. The open section attracted handlers and dogs that have won many Australian champion­ships between them. The weekend catered for a variety of classes including Novice, Maiden, Encouragement, Junior, Local and Open. The results for the Local section were First Danail Day with South Stormy, second Bernard Dwyer and Annie, third place Don­na Lindley and Bonnie.

These events don’t run without help from many people especially the guys out the back that work tirelessly. The success of the trial is also thanks to the generous support of sponsors: Coprice, Agriwest Parkes, Weston Fence, Dwyer Contracting, AON Insurance, Tanswell Transport, Inland Petroleum, Quality Wool, Hutcheon &a Pearce, Blatches, Spratt Contracting, Timtrac Industries, Nutrien Ag Parkes, Parkes Central Butchery, David Bicket Accounting and Wakely Shearing.

Henry Ranked In Top 20 In The World

June 20, 2024 By Roxane Manley

A massive congratulations to Parkes High School student Henry Kross, who has just made it into the top 20 squash ranking in the world for his age group. This is such an amazing achievement. Well done Henry!

Forbes Magpies Take The Main Game On Derby Day

June 13, 2024 By Roxane Manley

Forbes Magpies took the two points on Derby Day with a 22-18 win over Parkes Spacemen. Image credit: Parkes Spacemen Facebook page.

The biggest day on our local rugby league calendar is the June long weekend Parkes versus Forbes Derby Day, which has be­come a long standing tradition between the twin towns.

A massive crowd flocked to Pioneer Oval in Parkes on Sunday 7th June, to witness the clash between Parkes Spacemen and Forbes Magpies.

Parkes started the day strong, and were off to a thrilling start, taking out the League Tag 10-4, 18s 20-18 and Reserves 20-16, but it was Forbes who were victorious in the first grade battle, winning 22-18.

Forbes Magpies Coach Cameron Green­halgh said, “We haven’t beaten Parkes on Derby Day since 2018, it was good to get the win over there. We let a substantial first half lead slip away, it was 22-4 at half time and they came back to 22-18, but we hung on and got the two points.”

Each year, a massive Forbes crowd trav­els across to Parkes to support the team, and always get the players pumped up.

Parkes Spacemen President Tony Dw­yer said, “This particular round between Parkes and Forbes is known as one of the best local derbies in country rugby league.

It’s great to see Forbes enjoy it as much as us, you see how many people it brings over and how pumped up they get for it, they just love beating us over here.”

Lachlan Valley Golf Championships & Pennants

June 13, 2024 By Roxane Manley

This Sunday 16th June, Condobolin Golf Club will host the 2024 Lachlan Valley Golf Championships and Pennants. The Championships will be contested over 18 Holes with the Blue Ribbon event being the A Grade 18 Hole Championship for the Moulder Cup. Other grades being contest­ed are the respective B and C Grades and the Junior and Veterans Championships.

All grades will have Handicap sections run in conjunction.

It is anticipated the Blue Ribbon event will be a battle between the Forbes contin­gent including the Betland brothers, John and Steve, reigning Parkes Club Champi­on Aaron Wilkie and the Condobolin duo of Brad Hurley and Steve Beattie.

All competition fees to be paid for by the club, the Championships entry fee is $15 or $12 for students. Members of the Lachlan Valley District which includes Bogan Gate, Condobolin, Forbes, Grenfell, Peak Hill, Parkes and Trundle, who have not already nominated may do a post entry with nomi­nations being accepted at the Condobolin Golf Club prior to 10.30am on the day.

NRL Player Ben Lovett Returns To His Old Stomping Ground To Run Junior Clinic

June 13, 2024 By Roxane Manley

Parkes Marist 10s, 8s and 7s pictured with Ben Lovette (South Sydney), Haizyn Mellars (South Sydney) and Harrison Leadbetter.

On the June long-weekend, a lucky group of Parkes Marist Juniors were thrilled to be invited to a Coaching Clinic with former Parkes local, and current South Sydney Rabbitohs player Ben Lovett.

The Coaching Clinic was run for the PM­JRL U10, U8 and U7 players. PMJRL U10s Coach Jason O’Bryan said: “The kids were pumped when they were offered the oppor­tunity, it’s been a really great experience. To see a local guy who has made it in the NRL come back and offer his time is a credit to Ben and to Souths for wanting to do it.”

There was definitely a buzz around town once the kids found out Ben would be in Parkes to run a clinic. “My dad owns Sport­spower in town, and he said kids were com­ing in saying ‘Ben’s coming Monday to do a training clinic’. It was so great to hear that, and it just made me even more excited to come back,” said Ben.

Ben has been very busy of late, recently returning from Papua New Guinea. Know­ing he would be heading home to Parkes on the long-weekend, Ben approached the Parkes Senior League Club who put him in contact with the PMJRL to help facilitate the Clinic.

Ben said, “I wanted to do something for the local community, and get out here with the kids back where it all started for me. I was here in Parkes 10 years ago, running around the same as these kids here.”

“I still feel like I have a long way to go with my footy career, so for these kids to look up to me is massive. To be able to give back to them and hopefully inspire their dreams, to think that they can do what I have done, and hopefully they can have goals and as­pirations to do the same thing.”

Ben was joined by fellow NRL player Haizyn Mellars and Harrison Leadbetter. Haizyn is a South Sydney Rabbitohs team mate of Ben’s, who plays winger/centre, and Harrrison is cur­rently playing for the Belconnen Sharks in the Canberra region rugby league competition.

When Ben asked Haizyn if he would like to head back to Parkes with him and see his home town, he was more than happy to tag along, saying, “It’s great to come hang with the kids and play a little footy.”

At the end of the clinic, the NRL players handed out Rabbitoh’s merchanise and were very obliging, signing the kids head­gear, boots and shirts, and taking photos with anyone who asked.

Can-assist Field Enjoy Good Weather

June 13, 2024 By Short Putt

The Winning Team of Peter Mitchell, Andrew Grierson, Grant Tranter and Cindy Hillier.

Saturday 8th June saw the staging of the annual ‘Can-Assist Charity Golf Day’. This is a 4-person Ambrose event open to golf­ers and non-golfers alike, with a field of 116, comprising 85 golfers and 31 non-golfers.

The Scratch winners on the day were the team of Clint Hurford, Shane Sallaway, Damien Kennedy and Kell Becquet, with a score of 62.

The Nett Winners were Peter Mitchell, Andrew Grierson, Cindy Hillier and Grant Tranter, who managed a nett 51 5/8 off their 8 3/8 handicap, and who started the day with four birdies.

As usual, the community were generous in their sponsorship, so the prize list was quite extensive. Other Nett prizes included:

• R-up: C Banks, J Banks, N Morrison, J Sharkey.

• 3rd: D Ashton, Ash Davies, M Inder, N Inder.

• 4th: P Cowhan, L Cowhan, B Robinson, N Greenhalgh

• 5th: P Duke, M Duke, T Duke, Alf DaviesThe NTPs went to:

• Men: 1st J House, 3rd S Brindle, 9th S Sallaway, 18th P Mitchell

• Ladies: 1st nil, 3rd B Duncan, 9th G Bay­ley, 18th S Grierson.

• 2nd shot on 12th: Men Liam Fraser, La­dies Sharon Grierson

• Super Pin on 9th Shane SallawayAt the presentation, organiser Andrew Grierson thanked those who sponsored prizes, and the many players, both golfers and non-golfers, who had travelled to par­ticipate in the event. He also thanked the Can-Assist committee who ran the Half­way House and lunch BBQ and attended to all the other bits and pieces. The money raised amounted to over $3,000 which will help the work of the Forbes Can-Assist branch.

By Short Putt

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